Chapter 24

A valynn took slow and steady steps away from the merry music and the bustling celebration. She left the garden far behind. Her muted mind found solace in the echoing silence. Nothing could dim that numbing ache in her soul. Or mend the scattered shards of her heart. Mateo was his name. Mateo Vela. He would be executed. It was her fault. She had no choice but to protect herself…and Lily.

"Avalynn! Avalynn!" Lily skipped toward her. Her little sister beamed with that familiar smile, bowed, and then curtsied. "My big sister did it!"

She forced a smile. The innocent child had no idea what Avalynn had really done. And she never would. "That I did. But now I must bathe and rest." And cry a thousand tears.

Lily's twinkle dulled. Her innocent face seemed to harden. "The way you betrayed the lovely lowborn, that was special."

A dagger sunk deep inside Avalynn's heart—not special, not by a long shot. Lily's age meant she did not understand what she was saying. Or did she? That notion frightened her to her core. "It was not special, little princess. It was wretched. But it was necessary for many reasons."

Lily twirled, as if not even hearing her. "Very special!" Then she held her nose. She waved her dainty hand in front of her face. "You need a bath. You smell like a troll!" She backed away with a giggle. "Come find me when you smell like a garden. I want to hear more about how you tricked the lowborn."

Avalynn watched as Lily swayed her dress and skipped back to the celebration's revelry. Her little sister could not know her words as she had not one care or concern in the world. Avalynn would never be carefree like that again. And she didn't want to be.

She would never forgive herself for Mateo.

She sighed, and a flood of tears welled in her eyes. Her throat clogged, and she mumbled, "Do not lose it. Not here." She picked up her pace toward the palace when she heard a whimper. She stopped dead in her tracks. She heard it again.

Her attention zipped to the far end of the palace. In the shadowy area lined with trees, she saw movement. She narrowed her gaze. A muzzle and then a thick paw. "Stormshroud?" She glanced about. Reassured she was alone, she hurried over to the wolf, who waited at a cluster of tall bushes. "Stormy, it's you!"

The wolf's eyes darted about as she backed further and further into the bushes.

"It's me, girl. It's Avalynn."

From behind her, a hand slammed across Avalynn's mouth. A cloth wad went between her teeth. A hood whooshed over her head, plunging her into darkness. A scream lodged in her throat. The taste of bitter herbs flooded her mouth. A sharp chill coursed throughout her body. Toxin. Someone poisoned her. They were taking her, and Stormy did nothing.

Her abductor swept her off her feet. He cradled her and spoke in a pressing tone. "You will be okay, Princess."

Her head buzzed as her energy drained. She knew that voice. But for the life of her, she could not place it. "Who are you?" Her slurred words sounded unlike her. She was fading…

Her abductor's tone softened. "You are safe, Princess. Sleep now."

Sleep? She didn't want to sleep. She wanted to fight her abductor. Yet, her mind and body disagreed. Her breathing slowed. Her muscles relaxed. No matter how hard she fought closing her eyes, she dropped into a dark slumber.

Tickling her cheek like a butterfly's kiss, a tiny ray of sunshine warmed Avalynn's face. But she wanted more sleep. Her mind and body were that tired. She flipped on her side and pulled the silk sheets over her face. Her questioning hand lingered on the fabric. Stiff and scratchy did not equal silk. Someone was having a bit of fun at her expense while she slept. Everyone in the palace knew her sheets were made of silk only.

A flood of events exploded in her mind—the hunt, Mateo, the finish line, the poison in her mouth.

Her eyes snapped open. She sat up. She lay on a simple, narrow bed in the corner of a small room with thick, beige stone walls. This place was no palace. Surely, she was still dreaming. Sunlight shone through a narrow window. The smells of soil, pine, and burning wood drifted about. Awake, she had no clue where she had ended up. Yet, she sensed peace, calm, and cleanliness. She touched her smooth and washed face. Her hands and arms showed that someone had scrubbed away the hunt's grime.

A soft rap sounded on the door. She had been taken. She looked for a weapon but found none. She grabbed the small pillow, held it up, and jumped into a fighting stance. As if the soft square could do anything. "Uh, you can come in, but I must warn you that I have a weapon."

The door swung open. Stormshroud darted in and tackled her with a wet kiss to her face. Behind Stormy came Maid Nia. "Nia!" She hugged her so tight it squeezed a grunt out of the petite maidservant.

Nia squeezed back with a laugh. "My lady, it is so wonderful to see you awake."

Awake …the horrors of the hunt and what she had done to Mateo flooded her mind and her heart. She could not avoid her painful acts or the reality of Lily admiring Mateo's destruction at the hands of her devious big sister. It all fell on her like a crushing weight.

This time, she didn't stop the tears. They flowed like a rapid and relentless river as she explained to Nia. "Mateo…" Her shoulders shook. "I stepped across first." Her words were clogged. "He will die." She cried harder, her words registering like a skipped stone on a calm pond. "Because…of… me. "

"There, there. My princess, it will be okay." Nia patted Avalynn's back.

Nia's calm soothed her, but it triggered her as well. How would anything be okay again? Where were they anyway? Avalynn stepped back and wiped her face with the sleeves of a plain brown tunic. She didn't recognize it. "Where am I?"

"In the Sublands—at Mateo's home. This place belongs to his father, Manny Vela."

"What?" Had a trickle of wind passed through the bedchamber, she would have fallen over. "Where?"

"There is much for me to tell you." Nia handed her a small brown box. "But it is best if you go through this first."

Avalynn blinked as she studied the intricate wooden box. Carved with leaves around the borders, it boasted a swirly and fancy ‘S' etched in the middle. She wrapped her hands around it. "What is this?"

"You will see." Nia left the room and closed the door behind her.

Avalynn lowered herself onto the bed's edge. Stormshroud circled the room and then plopped on the floor. Her paws landed on Avalynn's bare toes.

She ran her fingers over the smooth wood. She traced the raised letter and whispered to Stormy, "Should we be scared?" Surely the elaborate ‘S' stood for Stromm. A gift perhaps? She trusted Nia completely. Still, the box made her uneasy. As if it contained dormant whispers of something ancient simply waiting to be awakened.

She drew in a deep breath, then blew it out nice and slow. She'd faced a dragon, a vicious swarm of Shadowbloods, and an elk stampede. She would face this wooden box.

She opened it. Inside she found a platinum necklace with a cross pendant like the one Mateo carried. She palmed it and removed the parchment underneath—a note addressed to My Love .

When you read this, know that your father and I love you more than life itself. I pray you accept this with peace and understanding in your heart. To appreciate your birthright, it's important to start at the beginning. Before you were conceived.

At one time, there existed harmony between the fae realm and the human realm, with access to both realms made possible through shimmery portals. Over time, humans sought to conquer the fae, which culminated in the Great Shimmer War. But humans were no match for the fae.

The Great Shimmer War ended swiftly, and humans were branded as enemies. The Strongs, the ruling house of Faevenly, used a glamour to erase the war from human memory. They then stored every portal on Torch Lake and forbade their use henceforth.

Over time, there came to be twin princesses in the Strong family—ambitious Princess Malena and curious Princess Celyse… Celyse is your grandmother. Princess Celyse found a shimmer portal and peeked at the human realm, where she met Julio Avila… He is your grandfather.

When the courting season approached, Celyse hid her portal and ignored Julio, choosing duty over heart. Celyse later learned of a threat to humans involving the shimmers. Using her own, she crossed into the human realm, seeking Julio's help in unraveling the mystery.

Celyse, Julio, and Julio's best friend, Manny Vela, discovered one of the royal families was manipulating the shimmers in a way that would harm humans forever. Celyse, Julio, and Manny, along with allies from the Sublands, stood against this family and their evil witch, Draven. After many lives were lost, the Sublanders were victorious, and peace returned to Faevenly. The Sublands' victory hinged on Julio's blue energy power and his innate human witch abilities.

Celyse left Faevenly for a life with Julio, and their love blossomed into a daughter—me, Gabriela… I am your mother.

Your grandparents took me to Faevenly often. But when my life was threatened, we stopped going, and unease began spreading amongst the provinces. Draven's evil returned to Faevenly, and your grandparents went missing. Every last Strong descendant, as well as the future of the Sublands, was at risk upon Draven's return.

Leaf, Faevenly's fiercest warrior, was sent to the human realm to protect me… He is your father.

Wielding my power, and with the help of a witch named Lady Sonia, I faced Draven and restored peace. This same power lives in you. Raw and unlimited, your power will always come forth in your times of need.

There are still those who seek to disturb the balance in Faevenly, and thus a lasting prophecy was born. Your prophecy.

In the twilight of transformation, there will arise like a mighty storm, one born of the union between realms. With a sword of blue in hand and the heart of a champion, this Only One will restore peace to Faevenly and forever unite the bloodlines.

There is great power in you, my love. Now the time has come for you to claim your destiny. Know that your father and I will always be with you. You will never be alone.

Avalynn's hands shook like a feather in a windstorm. She dropped the cross and the note. Her gut clenched tight. She was not the person in this writing. She snatched the parchment from the floor and reread it. No way. This message was not meant for her. She bolted to her feet and jerked open the door.

Maid Nia came right away with raised brows. "Did you read the note?"

"Yes. This is not for me." Avalynn slammed it back into the box. She carefully placed the cross on top and handed it back. "I am a Stromm —S-T-R-O-M-M—not a Strong . There's been a mistake."

"There is no mistake." Nia patted Avalynn's arm. "You are a Strong from Strong Haven." She set the box on the bed. "Every single word in that note is true."

Heat rose in her cheeks. This was absurd. She might despise her parents, but she knew her identity, and no maidservant could tell her otherwise. "How would you know?"

"Because, I am Lady Sonia."